My husband and I spent six weeks traveling through Western Europe with our three boys (ages 3 - 12), and tried our best to find lodging that was family friendly and reasonably priced. Enclave de Vire was our last stop, and wow, did we ever save the best for last! The photos can't really capture the amazing character of this home - it's very spacious, very well cared for, and has character in its thick walls, tiled floors, and beautiful woodwork that you simply can't find in more recently constructed homes. Christophe and his family are wonderful hosts, and made us feel comfortable and welcome right away. We didn't want to leave.
Best features:
Great kitchen! I am a food blogger (crowdedearthkitchen.com), and this was the most comfortable, spacious, well equipped kitchen I've had access to all summer. Thank you!
Great bathroom! The very fancy bathtub/shower combination is a vacation all on its own. We've learned that bathtubs aren't very common in affordable family rentals in Europe, which is fine, but to have access to such a large, wonderful tub near the end of our trip was a treat.
Indoor/outdoor play space for kids! There is a playroom next to the livingroom, which was WONDERFUL for our littlest boys. There is also plenty of room to run and play soccer outside.
Bedroom arrangement great for kids of all ages! Our 12 year old liked that he had a bedroom down the hall from the rest of us. It was nice for him to have a break from close quarters with his little brothers. Our littlest boys, in contrast, had a bedroom that was connected/contained through the master bedroom. The three bedrooms are upstairs, and there is a rather steep staircase, so having the little boys "tucked away" in the room behind us gave me great peace of mind.
Location! For us, the location of Enclave de Vire was the best of both worlds. The home itself is in a rural area, which felt open, comfortable, and safe. By car, we were mere minutes from charming little towns with the great cafes and breweries for which Belgium is famous, and we were also minutes away from amenities such as reasonably priced grocery stores. We enjoyed the nearby Chimay visitor center (cheese tasting and beer tasting), an afternoon drive to Westvleteren for lunch and a taste of their elusive, rarely exported beer, and a full, fun day at the Grote Markt in Brussels. Fun tip: if you are looking for affordable Belgian chocolates to take back home, try the "Okay" market in the nearest town to Enclave de Vire. The store itself is nothing fancy, but they sell a wide assortment of pretty good chocolate (decent souvenir quality) at very affordable prices.
We hope to stay an Enclave de Vire on our next trip to Belgium!
